Collapsible table and seat



Sept. 17, 1929. J. B. CLARKE 1,728,723

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE AND SEAT Filed April ll. 1927 2 'Sheets-Sheet l j@ Wzflvfk BYWJMPOJMM MATTORN.

SePt 17 1929- J. B. CLARKE 1,728,723

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE AND SEAT Filed April l1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN1/E fToR.

@ ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE JAMES BENJAMIN CLARKE, OF MILAN, ILLINOIS COLLAPSIBLE TABLE AND SEAT Application filed April 11, 1927. Serial No. 182,658.

My invention has reference to a collapsible table and seat, and is more specially designed for use in a limited space, such as a breakfast nook or small room in an apartment. The invention resides chiefly in certain novel mechanical devices by means of which the seat outfit can be folded into a compact space with the table, or again opened for use. Said devices are of such a character that seats or benches of considerable size and weight can be handled with ease.

Another pur ose of the invention is to provide a seat or each side of the table and support on said seats backs which will form closures at the sides of the table when the seats are fully collapsed, and together with the arms of said seats and some of the table parts, produce a cabinet effect, within which cabinet the table supports and mechanical devices will be fully enclosed and concealed.

In ordinary use the invention would comprise a table of usual breakfast nook proportions, with a Seat or bench on each side of the table suitable for one or twopersons, and it is in this application of the invention that it is shown and set forth herein.

Many of the present breakfast nooks have built-in furniture, about which it is difficult to clean, whereas in my invention the seats when folded are out of the way, and the device can be moved easily from one place to another.

The `above mentioned and other features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying` drawings` in which;

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the inven'tion, with one of its seats open for use,

40 and the other one in process of being folded or unfolded.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with both seats collapsed beneath the table top.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section showing one of the seats'in folded position and the mechanical devices fully closed.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the bar 11, detached.

The mechanical devices for controlling the action of the seats are provided at each end of each of said seats, and are identical in each case, so that a reference to any of the parts in one of said devices will be understood to pertain to the others also, and in the drawings such parts are provided with similar reference numbers.

The reference number 1 indicates the top of a table, supported near its ends by a pair of legs 2, united at their lower ends by a crosspiece 3. At each side of the table is shown a seat 4, (Fig. 1) of approximately the same length as the table, and having supporting end-pieces 5. On the inner face of each of said end-pieces is fixed a plate 6, to the outer end of which is pivoted a plate 7, as at a. Said plate is provided with flanges 8, to which is rigidly secured a back 9.

Pivoted at one of its ends on the crosspiece 3, near its end, as at b, is a bar 11, on the other end of which is a head 12, pivotally connected with the inner end of the plate 6, as at c. This connection permits the seat 4 to be tipped upwardly from a horizontal position, with the bar 11 near the floor, as shown at the right in Fig. 1, to a vertical position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the bar 11 also vertically disposed. This movement is accomplished by grasping the inner edge of the seat with the hand and raising the same until in the position shown at the left in Fig.

1, whereupon the seat and back are shoved a downwardly inclined one when the seat is in a horizontal position to an upwardly inclined one when the seat is vertical, the variation of angle of said plate with the fioor being approximately ninety degrees. V

The back 9 is preferably supported so as to incline outwardly a little, and during the movement of the seat it is desired to have the upright position thereof maintained. This is accomplished by means of a bar 13, connected with the lower end of the plate 7, and having a pivoted short section 14, which also has al pivotal connection with the head 12 at d. The section 14 is held from moving downwardly beyond a straight line with the bar 13 by means of a link 15, pivoted to said section, and pivotally connected with the plate 6 at e. lVhen the seat is in a horizontal position the lower edge of the back 9 is relatively closer to the pivot c, with the section 14 at right angles with the bar 13, as shown at the right in Fig. 1. As the seat is tipped upwardly the bar 13 and its movable section straighten out, giving a longer support to the edge of the back 9, and permitting said back to accommodate itself to the changing position of the seat. The pivot d also describes the are of a circle about the pivot c, passing to a point beneath the same in the final folding movement 0f the parts. This permits an additional movement outwardly to the lower edge of the back. This is only an apparent action, however, as the back maintains the same Vertical position throughout the movement of the seat. The operation is such as to bring the inner face of the back against the seat and just beneath the edge of the. table, as indicated in Figs. Q and 3.

The action of the bar 13 with relation to the plate 6 is along the line of a parallel movement apparatus, except that the inner end of the bar approaches nearer to the plate in the collapsed position.

To prevent the seat unit from coming in contact with the floor except when the seat is in position for use, and at the same time facilitate the handling of such seat. an auXiliary leg 16 is provided, pivoted at its upper end to the plate 6, as at f, the other end of such leg being fitted with a non-friction roller 17. When the seat is fully opened said roller barely rests upon the floor, but the moment the inner edge of the seat is elevated a little the lower end of the leg 16 moves inwardly, carrying the weight of the seat ontit throughout its movement, until, when the parts are fully folded beneath the table the end of the leg 16 is raised a little from the Hoor, as in Figs. 2 and 3. The desired action of said leg is secured by means of a link 18, connecting the leg with the pivot d. As the parts unfold from the fully collapsed position the leg 16 maintains a vertical position, as shown at the left in Fig. 1, until the plate 6 in its downward movement passes a horizontal position, whereupon the lower end of said leg is moved outwardly, with the roller 17 bearing on the floor, until the parts regain the position shown at the right in Fig. 1.

Vhen the seats are fully collapsed beneath the table top the accidental unfolding thereof is prevented by means of gravity catches 19 pivoted beneath the edges of the top 1, near the ends thereof, and which automatically engage the upper edges of the backs 9 when they are fully positioned beneath said top. The backs can be readily released when desired, by raising said catches.

The backs 9 are also shown provided with end-pieces 21, which aid in giving a coinplete breakfast nook appearance to the device. In the folding of the seats these endpieces come together, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, closing the end of the cabinet, eX- cept for an opening at the top. which may also be closed by a drop leaf Q2, hinged to the end of the top 1. Both ends of the cabinet are thus arranged for being enclosed, and the drop-leaves may be left in lowered position at all times if desired.

On the inside of each of the end-pieces 21, at the lower edge thereof, is fixed a small block 23, which fits into a notch in the edge of the cross-piece 3, assisting in supporting the seat units when in fully closed position.

The ends of the cross-piece 3 are also provided with ball rollers 24, which are on the same level as the lower ends of the legs 2, and by means of which the table can be turned from one position to another when fully folded. The ends of the cross-piece project a little distance beyond the legs 2, and the rollers are in the ends of the cross-piece. By raising one end of the table the Weight thereof is transferred entirely to the rollers at the opposite end. permitting the same to be readily turned thereon.

The supports 5 of one of the seats are out of alignment with those of the other seat, with a space between the same when they are folded to accommodate the mechanism attached to the faces thereof, and to economize space the plates G are preferably set into the face of the support, by recessing the same to receive the plates and parts in the same plane therewith.

'hen not in use the seats can be folded beneath the table, and such table turned with one of its sides to the wall of a room, and when thus collapsed the top of the table can be used for ordinary kitchen purposes, if desired. Under some conditions, where only one of the seats is needed for use, the table can be left against the wall in serving meals. as none of the folded parts of the other seat forms an obstruction beneath the table top, except at the ends thereof, on the outsides of the legs 2..

I/Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described, a table and supports therefor, a bench for such table and pieces therefor, and a connecting frame for the bench and table comprising a plate member attached to the seat pieces diagonally thereof, and a bar pivoted at one end to the table support and pivoted at the other end to said plate, the swinging movement of the end of said bar tending to change the position of said piate from one Xed position to a position at right angles therewith.

f2. In a device of the class described, a table and supports therefor, a bench for said table and pieces therefor, a connecting frame for said bench and table comprising a frame member attached to the seat support, a bar member pivoted at one end to the table support and having a pivotal connection at the other end With said frame member, a leg piece pivoted to said frame member and adapted for a slidable engagement With a floor. and a connection between said leg piece and frame member controlling the movement of said leg piece in the varying positions of the bench, the action of said bar member assisting the movement of the bench from a horizontal position at one side of the table to a vertical position beneath the same, and the reverse.

8. In a device of the class described, a table and end supports therefor, a bench and end pieces therefor, a back pivotally connected With said bench, a frame-Work connecting the bench and table structures permiting a movement of the bench from a horizontal position at one side of the table to a vertical position beneath the same, and systems of levers on said end pieces connecting the back and bench and supporting the back in a substantially vertical position in all positions of the bench.

4. In a device of the class described, a table and supports therefor, a bench and pieces therefor, a frame-Work connecting said table supports and seat pieces, assisting in the movement of the bench from an unfolded position to a folded position, a back pivoted to said frame-Work, a brace connected With said back having a pivoted section connected with said frame-work, and a connecting means between said pivoted section and said frame-Work, capable of moving said section into line With said brace upon the bench being folded, and at a right angle therewith upon the bench being unfolded.

InY testimony whereof I atix my signature.

J. BENJAMIN CLARKE. 

